Definition: "The act of preserving land areas that are home to wildlife. The reasons for conserving habitat vary depending on ideology and include preservation for hunting, fishing, overall ecological health, human health, and religious reasons. Habitat conservation efforts use legal means to create land areas that remain natural and management work to maintain the quality of the habitats."
SLOSS Debate (Single Large or Several Small)
-Which is better to preserve species? Why?
Legislation
Environmental legislation provides a framework of environmental laws including the National forest Management Act, The Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act; these laws provide a restriction on environmental destruction and induce punishment for breaking these laws.
The National forest Management Act
Congress passed The National forest Management Act’s in order to preserve biodiversity with in national parks in the United States. Before this Act was instated forests were being clear-cut in areas all over the United States. After the Act was instated, the government can now regulate the amount of timber being harvested, as well as preserving Biodiversity in these areas
Clean Water Act
The United States Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in October of 1972, and from then on its goal has been to eliminate water pollution of toxic substances. They focus on the regulation of point source pollution, in where they enforce permits on Industrial facilities, and Agricultural facilities and stopping pollution at the source.
The Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act enacted in 1973 allows for a listing of species that are endangered and threatened, and prohibits unauthorized killing, transporting, or sale of the endangered species on the list. This law prevents extinction and the loss of Biodiversity within a habitat.
Captive Breeding
Captive Breeding is when an organization protects an endangered or threatened animal in order to successfully have it breed to preserve the specie. This is almost always done in zoos. Though captive breeding is almost always successful, it is not very efficient. It is very difficult to perform and time consuming. Captive Breeding tends to work well only for rare, endangered species. Though there usually needs to be a larger group in the process of Captive Breeding, because with a small group, inbreeding may occur because of a limitation of genes. It is better used as a "last resort strategy" because of the specific conditions in which it will flourish. It also fails to produce good results when used for commercial purposes. Essentially, captive breeding works really well if you are trying to simply increase the numbers of the rare or endangered specie. Though the specie may not perform as well as if it were produced in its natural habitat. This is because of inbreeding as well as not developing skills required to survive in the wild.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service breeding red wolves http://images.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/r/re/red_wolf_pups_-_captive_breeding.jpg
An example of Captive Breeding being successful is the California Condor. In 1982, there were only 25 left in the world. Through the process of captive breeding, in 2004, there were 215. Though the project cost millions, the purpose was achieved. California Condors are slowly, but steadily being released in the wild.
Provide habitats for "over 250 threatened or endangered animals"
Are used by millions of birds as stepping stones during migration
Coastline preservation protects fisheries
Captive Breeding
Highly effective, though inefficient
Almost always produces great results in numbers
May produce animals unsuitable for their environment
Inbreeding may occur
Why would you want to preserve biodiversity?
Allows humans to perform genetic engineering
Helps us control invasive species naturally
We need diverse food sources
We rely on wild animals and plants for natural products (ex. fertilizer)
Plants and animals provide essential ecosystem services
Aesthetically pleasing
Important for academic study and research
Do different methods affect different species?
Wildlife Refuges tend to work better for animals that are threatened or needed for commercial purposes. Many Wildlife Refuges are even set up for hunting purposes.
Legislation affects animals that are threatened through hunters and sport. An example of this are elephants. There are laws preventing the killing of elephants simply because hunters killed so many elephants that they came close to extinction.
Captive Breeding works well for animals that are extremely endangered. This is used as a "last resort". It works well to keep species that a threatened living.
What is the best method of preserving biodiversity?
Habitat Conservation
Definition: "The act of preserving land areas that are home to wildlife. The reasons for conserving habitat vary depending on ideology and include preservation for hunting, fishing, overall ecological health, human health, and religious reasons. Habitat conservation efforts use legal means to create land areas that remain natural and management work to maintain the quality of the habitats."
Examples:
-National Wildlife Refuge System
A map of US Wildlife Refuges (note prominence on East Coast, West Coast and Mississippi River)
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1428/vandegraft/fig1.gif
-National Park System
A map of US National Parks
http://www.cohp.org/natl_parks/images/national_parks.gif
-Marine Conservation
A map of US National Marine Sanctuaries
http://montereybay.noaa.gov/intro/maps/nms_lg.jpg
Also:
SLOSS Debate (Single Large or Several Small)
-Which is better to preserve species? Why?
Legislation
Captive Breeding
Captive Breeding is when an organization protects an endangered or threatened animal in order to successfully have it breed to preserve the specie. This is almost always done in zoos. Though captive breeding is almost always successful, it is not very efficient. It is very difficult to perform and time consuming. Captive Breeding tends to work well only for rare, endangered species. Though there usually needs to be a larger group in the process of Captive Breeding, because with a small group, inbreeding may occur because of a limitation of genes. It is better used as a "last resort strategy" because of the specific conditions in which it will flourish. It also fails to produce good results when used for commercial purposes. Essentially, captive breeding works really well if you are trying to simply increase the numbers of the rare or endangered specie. Though the specie may not perform as well as if it were produced in its natural habitat. This is because of inbreeding as well as not developing skills required to survive in the wild.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service breeding red wolves
http://images.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/r/re/red_wolf_pups_-_captive_breeding.jpg
An example of Captive Breeding being successful is the California Condor. In 1982, there were only 25 left in the world. Through the process of captive breeding, in 2004, there were 215. Though the project cost millions, the purpose was achieved. California Condors are slowly, but steadily being released in the wild.
Condor Population as of 7/17/2009
http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/california_condor.shtml
How do they work?
in-situ (on site) conservation: Habitat Conservation
ex-situ (off site) conservation: Captive Breeding
Are they effective?
Wildlife Refuges (in US):
Captive Breeding
Why would you want to preserve biodiversity?
Do different methods affect different species?
Wildlife Refuges tend to work better for animals that are threatened or needed for commercial purposes. Many Wildlife Refuges are even set up for hunting purposes.
Legislation affects animals that are threatened through hunters and sport. An example of this are elephants. There are laws preventing the killing of elephants simply because hunters killed so many elephants that they came close to extinction.
Captive Breeding works well for animals that are extremely endangered. This is used as a "last resort". It works well to keep species that a threatened living.
What is the best method of preserving biodiversity?
Citations:
http://www.greeniacs.com/Glossary.html#h__
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/pdfs/factsheets/FactSheetAmNationalWild.pdf__
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/relevance/IIIC1Why.shtml__
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1941820
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1941924
http://library.fws.gov/Pubs9/wildlife_laws.pdf
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/wildlife/EconWild.html
http://www.fathom.com/course/21701746/session3.html
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/faqs/welcome.html
http://www.ecoworld.com/animals/how-biologistcaptive-breeding-saved-the-california-condor.html